TOP Gweru lawyer Reginald Chidawanyika’s ex-wife and his sister, jointly charged with contempt of court and violating the Witchcraft Suppression Act after accusing him of possessing goblins, were lucky to escape prison last Friday after the former got a wholly suspended sentence and the latter was acquitted on the counts.Report by Stephen Chadenga, Own Correspondent
Victoria Munengwa (39) and Chidawanyika’s sister, Tariro Chidawanyika, a student at Midlands State University, appeared before Gweru magistrate Kudakwashe Canady after they denied the lawyer custody of his last-born child, as a result breaching a High Court order made at the time the couple divorced.
The co-accused persons went on to accuse the lawyer of possessing goblins hence their refusal to give him custody of the child. Canady found Munengwa guilty on both charges and sentenced her to one month in prison.
The magistrate, however, suspended the jail term for five years. Chidawanyika’s sister was, however, acquitted on both counts.
It was the State’s case that on April 5, 2012 and at around 4:20pm at a city hotel, Chidawanyika met the accused persons and asked his ex-wife to give him custody of their last-born child as he wanted to take her for the holidays.
His ex-wife, however, refused with the child, accusing him (Chidawanyika) of wanting to perform rituals on the child. She went on to accuse the lawyer of possessing goblins, saying that she was told that at the church.
Chidawanyika’s sister Tariro also shouted at her brother, saying she was going to sort him out adding that he was staying alone because he had goblins.
She claimed the lawyer wanted to use the goblins on the children. Andrew Marimo prosecuted.
